QUESTIONS FOR WRITTEN REPLY: IQP 36 OF 2010

(1) (a) How many departments in the province had (i) permanent and (ii) acting heads of department as at the latest specified date for which information is available and (b) what is the name of each department concerned;

(2) (a) how long have those departments referred to in paragraph (1)(ii) above been without a permanent head, (b) what progress had been made with the filling of each vacancy as at the latest specified date for which information is available and (c) when is it anticipated that each vacancy will be filled?

MECs:

279. Mr P E van Vuuren to ask the MEC responsible for Education:

(1) Whether he has been informed that (a) there was only one winter school centre for the learners of the Grahamstown district, (b) only 40% of the targeted learners attended this winter school and (c) the winter school closed one week prior to the scheduled closing date; if so, (i) what were the reasons for the low attendance and (ii) why did the centre close a week prior to the scheduled closing date;

(2) what amount was (a) budgeted for and (b) actually spent on this centre;

(3) whether the amount spent on this winter school was well spent; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

280. Mr P E van Vuuren to ask the MEC responsible for Education:

(1) Whether he has been informed that the recently built Sophoka Junior Primary School in Langdraai in the Amahlati Municipality is inadequately equipped with desks and chairs; if so, what is the reason for this problem;

(2) whether any steps have been or are to be taken with a view to addressing this problem; if not, why not; if so, (a) what steps and (b) by when will this problem be solved?

281. Mr P E van Vuuren to ask the MEC responsible for Education:

(1) Whether his Department has systems in place to ensure that the 4 588 schools in the province are provided with nutritious cooked meals within the R702 936 000 budget for the School Nutrition Programme; if not, why not; if so, what are the full relevant details in respect of these systems;

(2) whether any monitoring mechanisms are in place to ensure the effective administration of this programme; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;

(3) what is the difference between this system and the system administered in the past?

282. Mr J P Korkie to ask the MEC responsible for Human Settlements:

(1) Whether any houses in the Koukamma Municipality were under rectification as at the latest specified date for which information is available; if so, (a) how many and (b) what are the costs involved;

(2) (a) how many houses had been built in (i) Koukamma, (ii) Coldstream and (iii) Woodlands as at the latest specified date for which information is available and (b) what were the costs of these projects in each case;

(3) who was the appointed contractor of the houses that are now under rectification;

(4) whether any housing project is envisaged for the Homeseekers Association of the Breidbach community, King William’s Town; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

283. Mr D B Haddon to ask the MEC responsible for Human Settlements:

(1) (a) What was the status of the Cala tender housing project as at the latest specified date for which information is available and (b) what was the original value of the project;

(2) how many houses (a) were supposed to have been built in terms of this project and (b) had been built as at the latest specified date for which information is available;

(3) whether any amount had been paid to contractors for incomplete work as at the latest specified date for which information is available; if so, (a) what amount, (b) to whom and (c) when?

284. Mr J P Korkie to ask the MEC responsible for Health:

(1) Whether he has been informed that only one ambulance is in operation for the entire Hangkloof area in Koukamma; if so,

(2) whether any steps have been or are to be taken with a view to addressing this matter; if not, why not; if so, (a) what steps and (b) when;

(3) whether any steps have been or are to be taken with a view to addressing the problem that this ambulance has only one driver per shift; if not, why not; if so, (a) what steps and (b) when?

285. Mr D B Haddon to ask the MEC responsible for Local Government and Traditional Affairs:

(1) (a) What are the names of the 25 municipalities in the province that have been prioritised for turn-around intervention by the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) and (b) what is the expected intervention period plan in each case;

(2) whether the officials concerned are deployed on fixed-term contracts; if so, what is the cost to the province to employ these officials in these capacities?

(3) whether any plans are in place to ensure a sound turn-around success in each of these prioritised municipalities; if not, why not; if so, what plans?

(1) How many members of the South African Police Service in the province were experiencing delays in receiving payments due to them for extra duties done during the Soccer World Cup as at the latest specified date for which information is available;

(2) (a) what is the reason for this delay and (b) what is the estimated total amount involved;

(3) whether there is sufficient budget to cover these amounts; if not, why not;